Tuesday, November 17, 2020

Cutting Leaves for the Shadow Stars Border

What is the use of living, if it be not to strive for noble causes and to make this muddled world a better place for those who will live in it after we are gone? I avow my faith that we are marching towards better days. Humanity will not be cast down. We are going on swinging bravely forward along the grand high road and already behind the distant mountains is the promise of the sun.
~Winston Churchill

Quilting


With so many colors in the Shadow Stars already, more green vines and fewer flowers seems like a better idea. I drafted several versions of the vines, made many minor changes, and then cut some simple leaf templates.

Paper leaf templates

Now it's time to review the greens. The stack that looked so good on the border stripe is now set on the Shadow Stars and it's easy to see that some are too bright. The Stars are a cheerful collections of clear and toned prints that {possibly} evoke a bit of Depression-era nostalgia. But none of them are reproduction fabrics. While I like nodding to a bygone time, I don't want a reproduction quilt. Neither do I want the border prints to overpower the Stars. 

So the two more colorful prints on the left are discarded along with the bright green on top. I may not keep the two polka dots underneath either. The remaining fabrics are quieter and more monochromatic. We'll see if there's enough to complete all the leaves. Merely 200.

Several green prints are laid on the Shadow Stars that will form the center of the quilt
Green prints for leaves

Leaf templates on regular paper won't last long so they are reinforced with the heavy cardboard from the old hanging folders. Boy, I'm glad I didn't dump these yet. Each can be reused several times before the edges become soft and I can lay them out to maximize use of my fabrics.

Cardboard backed paper templates are laid on fabric for marking
Arranging leaf templates on fabric

Reading

Martin Walker spent his career as a reporter for The Guardian and UPI. He also wrote several non-fiction books about European, Russian, and American politics including The National Front, Waking Giant, and Clinton. After moving to France, he began the Bruno mystery series centered on a local policeman. 

I finally read the first one, Bruno, Chief of Police, and enjoyed the way Martin incorporates his previous work into a believable and unique story. Tony Hillerman wrote a fabulous mystery series that introduced his readers to the Navaho homelands and Martin's books develop from a similar love of the PĂ©rigord region. He weaves threads from French history with current events about wine-making and small town life to create a memorable story. I'm looking for the second one now.

Enjoy the day, Ann

10 comments:

Julierose said...

I like using freezer paper ironed onto file folders--then I do starch method...that is when I do appliqueing
at all..not very often really...my biggest project was Pomegranates...sometimes it's nice to have a long term project ...good luck with the greens...hugs, Julierose

Nann said...

I so admire your deliberations and thoughtfulness in the design process. I often trace a template onto fusible web and then iron that to lightweight cardboard. (Thanks for the reminder about file folders, of which I have plenty.) My husband has enjoyed reading the Bruno series.

Ann said...

Oh, that sounds like a good idea, Julierose. I'll try that, too.

Ann said...

Thanks, Nann. This is something I've never heard of before and sounds like it would work with the stickiness of the fusible web. I'm delighted to have a use for my old file folders. Hooray.
Your husband and I seem to have similar reading lists.

Mystic Quilter said...

Good idea removing the mentioned greens, the quieter ones are definitely a better fit with your soft stars.

Ann said...

Thanks. I keep wondering if I'm making a mess. This quilt has taken a long time so fabrics some and go.

Robin said...

You have a lot of appliqueing ahead of you. I really like to do leaves, there seems to be a rhythm to them. They aren't as fussy as petals so they finish up much more quickly.

patty a. said...

200 leaves? Wow, that border is going to look fabulous with all the detail you are putting into it!

Ann said...

That's good to know, Robin. I thought tucking the ends under the stem might make them easier.

Ann said...

Thanks, Patty. I hope it does.